two year Patristic Lectionary

Many people who pray the Daily Office, the Prayer of the Church, alongside reading the scriptures read, particularly in the “Office of Readings”, a non-biblical passage as well.

“Let the inspired books of both the Old and the New Testaments be read at Vigils, as also commentaries on them by the most eminent orthodox and catholic fathers.” (Rule of Benedict, IX)

Although there is a two year cycle of scripture readings to go with the Roman Office, only one year of non-biblical readings is regularly used. Now, on the initiative of Pluscarden Abbey in Scotland, I am absolutely delighted to have here a Two Year Patristic Lectionary. This is already being used in monasteries in Scotland, England, the USA, Ghana and South Africa, with the hope that, being made freely available, it will be of use to many both within and outside monasteries.

33 Responses to two year Patristic Lectionary

What a fantastic resource! Thank you, Bosco. Would you consider creating a tab for it on the left side perhaps underneath your “Liturgy of the Hours” tab? It would be great to have an easy way of navigating to the particular reading on a daily basis.

Yes, Michael, I will work out ways to link it from the chapel and from Liturgy of the Hours areas; I’m not sure that a whole extra tab is the best way forward – I also wish I had more time (and know-how!) to refresh the site, its look and navigation – it’s all done in caught snatches between other things 🙂 Thanks for the encouragement.

Thank you very much for this wonderful resource! this will respark my of and on reading of the Office of Readings. With God’s grace – I hope to be infused with the desire to pray the Office of Readings to somewhat complete my hours of Lauds, Vespers and Compline.

Msgr. Maroney of the National Bishop’s Liturgical Office was asked about the lack of the two year cycle in the Divine Office for the U.S.A. He said it was not an important issue and was on the back burner. Thanks for taking the initiative and getting this done. Perhaps the fuller sharing of the Scriptures will balance a lot of the issues which we face.

thanks…I was so confused with the Office of Readings during advent…feasts, solemnities and ordinary time seems to have collided against each other….there was no way I could have prayed this without your assistance

Sorry, Father, I have no idea – and no real idea who to ask. It certainly seems desirable and pretty obvious. I also suspect you could take the file into a printer/copy company and they would print and bind it for you. Blessings.

Sadly, Br Stephen, this seems to be an example of poor understanding of how to run websites. While announcing “We hope that its inclusion as a free resource on the website of the Durham University Centre for Catholic Studies will enable it to be of use to the wider Church beyond the monasteries of the Benedictine Confederation.” and saying that “this new version of our website is currently under construction. For more information, please visit our old site.” The “old site” is completely down. If this perseveres beyond patience please let me know. Blessings.

Hi Bosco,
Do you have access to the files still? If so, I am happy to host them on one of my websites to make them available again – or if anyone else has them on their computer…
Thanks in anticipation!

It seems to be missing the patristic readings for Eastertide – Year 2 and Ordinary Time – Year 2 – Weeks 18-34. The references for those readings are included in the tables but not the readings themselves. Is there any way to get them?

Hi Br Timothy, Bosco and Michael – yes, the files are definately missing from the zip file. If you have them can you post them somewhere accessible.
I am being tempted to make them into an ebook version…

This is confusing. I have the Eastertide – Year 2 and Ordinary Time – Year 2 – Weeks 18-34 from the original download I made several years ago before they made the zip file.
They are indeed missing from the zip file currently posted.
I’ll email them for a resolution on this matter.
[ccs.admin@durham.ac.uk or m.j.p.pound@durham.ac.uk]